EP committee endorses Busuttil's report on Frontex

The European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee today endorsed the Busuttil Report on the review of the mandate of the EU's external borders agency, Frontex.

The report was approved by 43 votes in favour and seven votes against. In all, the committee voted on 290 amendments.

The vote comes at a time when the role of Frontex is back in the headlines as the prospect of a new wave of mass migratory movements towards Europe increases.

In today's report, MEPs endorsed the proposal by rapporteur Simon Busuttil to establish an EU Border Guard System and to substantially increase the human and technical resources of the agency to cope with growing migration challenges.

One of the most contentious issues related to the concerns on the respect of the human rights of migrants by Frontex. The committee endorsed proposals to tighten the agency's obligations on human rights and to suspend Frontex missions that violate human rights. The committee also voted to establish an Advisory Board to monitor human rights.

The committee also voted to grant the agency the power to process personal data in order to be in a better position to use information that it acquires during its missions. To date this was not possible and this greatly hindered the effectiveness of the agency to tackle cross border crime and illegal migration.

The committee avoided references to the controversial Frontex Guidelines approved by Council last year but ensured that respect for international and EU law in Frontex missions, including maritime missions, prevails at all time.

Welcoming the result, rapporteur Simon Busuttil said:

"Today's vote has delivered a big majority for a stronger Frontex. We have long criticised the agency's lack of effectiveness. Now we are doing something about it." he said.

Today's vote gives Dr Busuttil the mandate to enter into negotiations with the Council of Ministers since agreement on this law requires the consent of both the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.

"We have a strong mandate to negotiate with Council and I hope that Council will rise to the occasion as there is no better time to agree on this review than now. I hope that the Hungarian Presidency will seize this opportunity," he concluded.

Simon Busuttil is the EPP's coordinator in the Civil Liberties Committee.